Spring cushion structure



Dec. 21', 1937. w, LE N K. 2,102,724

SPRING CUSHION STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1N YENTOR Wa/ze/ Lamar/(z ATTORNEYS D 1937.. w. LESINSKI 2,102,724

SPRING CUSHION STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 24, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvENTpR. War/fer L QJlfiJ/f 1 M I J ATTORNE';

Patented Dec. 21, 1937 QFFECE SPRING CUSHION STRUCTURE Walter Lesinski, Detroit, Mich, assignor to L. A. Young Spring and Wire Corporation, Detroit,

Mich.

Application September 24, 1936, Serial No. 102,295

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in spring cushion structures.

The mainobjects of this invention are: First, to provide in a spring cushion structure an improved spring supporting and upholstery securing means providing a rigid structure and one which makes it possible to quickly secure the upholstery and the springs.

Second, to provide a spring cushion structure which is very rigid and is capable of withstanding severe stresses and strains whenv in use and in upholstering and handling.

Third,to provide a spring cushion structure to which the upholstery may be rapidly applied by unskilled labor, and also which permits the upholstery being detached for cleaning or replacement should occasion require.

Objects relatingto details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary view partially in vertical section of a spring cushion structure embodying the features of my invention.

Fig.2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the spring 30 unit, a portion only of the springs being indicated.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary inverted View showing further structural details.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the border frame member.

35 Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of border frame member.

Fig. 7 is a section illustrating the manner of securing certain of the outer or border coil springs to the rim, a plier-like tool being shown by dotted 40 lines.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral I designates generally the border frame which is made up of front and rear or side members 2 and end members 3. In the embodiment illus- 5 trated, the frame is substantially rectangular but it will be understood that in practice the shape is varied to meet the varying conditions of vehicle structure.

In the structure illustrated, the side and end 50 members are formed as separate pieces secured together by corner plates l, preferably joined by spot welding indicated at 5. These border members are formed of strips of metal of suitable gauge folded longitudinally to provide a relatively 55 Wide double thickness web or ledge 6. The outer edge of the upper arm is turned upwardly and inwardly to provide an inwardly facing channel l. The lower arm is extended beyond this channel and is curved downwardly and inwardly to provide an inwardly facing upholstery securing 5 channel 8 disposed outwardly of channel I and a rounded edge or surface 9 around which the upholstery may be drawn. By spacing channel 8 laterally outwardly of channel I, I facilitate the pinching of the upper arm to close channel 1 10 around springs to be associated therewith as hereinafter described. This operation is performed by a plier-like tool, the same being manipulated from the outside of the frame without danger of deforming channel 8 in the operation. 15

Cross bars it are extended between the side members 2 and are arranged upon and welded to the web or ledge 6 as indicated at I I.

The spring supporting grid made up of the longitudinal wires l2 and transverse wires I3 is 0 arranged on these cross members with their ends lapped upon the border frame and secured thereto by spot welding as indicated at M. This forms a very convenient and effective support for the springs 15, the springs being secured by means of clips [6. V

The outer springs are arranged with their bottom coils within the inwardly facing channel I and the top flange ll of this channel is clamped down upon the coil as at I8, thus effectively securing the border springs in position relative to the frame.

The upholstery I9 is provided with a skirt 20 which is wrapped around the upholstery securing channel and secured therein as by means of spline wires or rods 2!, the skirt being folded around the lower flange of the upholstery channel and wedgingly secured byforcing the spline therein.

The upholstery might be secured by clamping the bottom flange 22 upon the beaded edge 23 of 40 the upholstery skirt 2 3 as indicated in Fig. 7.

It will be observed that in the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the bottom arm of the strip is offset downwardly at 25 so that the upholstery securing channel 26 is spaced from the spring securing channel, allowing the use of a plier-like tool 21 for clamping the springs, and also a similar or a pneumatic tool, known in the art, may be used for closing up the flange 22 of the upholstery channel in either of the embodiments.

This work can be performed by unskilled workmen-that is, it is not necessary toemploy skilled mechanics or upholsterers to effectively carry out the upholstering operations.

Further, the structure is very rigid and capable of effectively withstanding severe stresses to which it is subjected in use and also in the upholstering operations.

I have illustrated two embodiments of my invention which I consider very practical, I have not attempted to illustrate or describe certain other embodiments which I contemplate and to which my improvements are readily adaptable as I believe that this disclosure will enablethose skilled in the art to which my invention relates to embody or adapt the same as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a spring cushion structure, a border frame comprising fixedly connected side and end members formed of metal strips, the strips being folded longitudinally to provide a relatively wide double thickness horizontal web, the upper arm of the web being reversely folded to provide an inwardly facing spring supporting channel, the lower arm of the web being extended beyond the upper and curved downwardly and inwardly to provide an inwardly facing curved upholstery securing channel disposed outwardly relative to the spring securing channel whereby said upper arm may be deformed to close said spring securing channel without deforming said upholstery skirt channel, cross bars extending between said side members and fixedly secured to the webs thereof, a spring supporting wire grid disposed upon said cross members with their ends lapped upon said webs and fixedly secured thereto, coiled body springs arranged on said grid, the bottom coils of certain of said body springs being clamped within the inwardly facing spring supporting channel, and an upholstery covering provided with a depending skirt passed around said upholstery securing channel and disposed therein.

2 In a spring cushion structure, a border frame comprising fixedly connected side and end members formed of metal strips, the strips being folded'longitudinally to provide a relatively wide double thickness horizontal web, the upper arm of the web being reversely folded to provide an inwardly facing spring supporting channel, the lower arm of the Web being extended beyond the upper and curved downwardly and inwardly to provide an inwardly facing curved upholstery securing channel disposed outwardly relative to the spring securing channel whereby said upper arm may be deformed to close said spring securing channel without deforming said upholstery skirt channel, a spring support secured to said webs, coiled body springs arranged on said support, the bottom coils of certain of said body springs being clamped within the inwardly facing spring supporting channel, and an upholstery covering provided with a depending skirt passed around said upholstery securing channel and disposed therein.

3. In a spring cushion structure, a border frame comprising fixedly connected side and end members formed of metal strips, the strips being folded longitudinally to provide a relatively wide double thickness horizontal web, the upper arm of the web being reversely folded to provide an inwardly facing spring supporting channel, the lower arm of the web being extended beyond the upper and curved downwardly and inwardly to provide an inwardly facing curved upholstery se-' curing channel disposed outwardly relative to the spring securing channel, a spring support secured to said webs, coiled body springsarranged on said support, the bottom coils of certain of said body springs being clamped within the inwardly facing spring supporting channel, an upholstery covering provided with a depending skirt passed around said upholstery securing channel and secured therein, and a spline member coacting with said channel to clampingly retain said skirt.

4. In a spring cushion structure, a border frame comprising fixedly connected side and end members formed of metal strips, the strips being folded longitudinally to provide a relatively wide double thickness horizontal web, the upper arm of the web terminating in an inwardly facing spring supporting channel, the lower arm of the web terminating in an inwardly facing upholstery securing channel offset laterally relative to said spring securing channel whereby said upper arm may be deformed to close said spring securing channel without deforming said upholstery skirt channel, spring supports mounted on said webs, body springs arranged on said supports the bottom coils of certain of said body springs being clamped within the inwardly facing spring supporting channel, and an upholstery covering provided with a depending skirt passed around said upholstery securing channel and secured therein.

5. In a spring structure, a border frame of metal folded to provide a ledge of double thickness extending inwardly, an integral spring receiving channel and an integral inwardly facing upholstery receiving channel offset laterally from said spring receiving channel whereby said spring receiving channel may be deformed to close the same without deforming said upholstery receiving channel, a spring support secured to said ledge, coil springs supported by said spring support, the bottom coil of certain of said springs being clamped in said spring receiving channel, upholstery covering said springs and having a depending skirt, and a bead around which 'said skirt is Wrapped, said skirt being drawn around the lower side of said frame member and inserted with said bead in said upholstery receiving channel, said channel being deformable to clamp said skirt and bead therein.

6. In a spring structure, a border frame of metal folded to provide a ledge of double thickness extending inwardly, an integral spring receiving channel and an integral upholstery receiving channel offset laterally from said spring receiving channel, coil springs supported by said frame member, the bottom coil of certain of said springs being clamped in said spring receiving channel, upholstery covering said springs and having a depending skirt, and a bead around which said skirt is Wrapped, said skirt being drawn around the lower side of said frame member and inserted with said bead'in said upholstery receiving channel, said channel being deformable to clamp said skirt and bead therein.

7. A border frame member for a cushion structure comprising a plurality of sheet metal strips, means securing said strips together at their ends to form a frame of rectangular outline, said strips being folded to form a ledge of double thickness, a channel integrally connected with said ledge at one side thereof, and a second channel integrally connected with said ledge at the other side thereof, said channels being offset from one another in thedirection of the planeof said ledge.

8. A border frame member for a cushion structure comprising a plurality of sheet metal strips,

.m'eans securing said strips together at their ends to form a frame of rectangular outline, said strips being folded to form a ledge of double thickness, a channel integrally connected with said ledge at one side thereof, and a second channel integrally connected with said ledge at the other side thereof, said channels being offset from one another. Y

9. A border frame member for a cushion structure comprising a plurality of sheet metal strips, means securing said strips together at their ends to form a frame of rectangular outline, said strips having a ledge of double thickness, a channel integrally connected with said ledge at one side thereof, and a second channel integrally connected'with said ledge at the other side thereof, said channels being offset from one another transversely of the plane of said ledge.

10. A border frame member for a cushion structure comprising a plurality of sheet metal strips, means securing said strips together at their ends to form a frame of rectangular outline, said strips having a ledge, a channel integrally connected with said ledge at one side thereof, and a second channel integrally connected with said ledge at the other side thereof, said channels being offset from one another transversely of the plane of said ledge.

11. A border frame member for spring cushion structures comprising a metal strip folded longitudinally to provide a relatively wide double thickness web, the upper arm of the web being reversely folded to provide an inwardly facing spring supporting channel, the lower arm of the web being extended beyond the upper and curved downwardly and inwardly to provide an inwardly facing curved upholstery securing channel disposed outwardly relative to the spring securing channel.

12. A border frame member for spring cushion structures comprising a metal strip folded longitudinally to provide a relatively wide double thick- 

